The Dragon theme is often found in the Tibetan symbols. Tibet was largely inspired by the surrounding countries to create its own mythology and dragon remains a very strong character. The eastern dragon is one of two major types of dragons and opposes the European dragon in the sense that it is not automatically bad. It represents the forces of nature and therefore should be considered with caution because, like nature, it can be dangerous. Different shapes, different names exist in Asia, nevertheless fairly similar morphology.

The Chinese dragon is the most representative of all creatures of Chinese civilization which ruled much of Asia. Eastern cultures finds the symbolism of the dragon as the representative of the emperor or the representative of power. The Chinese dragon is a composite creature characterized by a coil body and a fierce bearded face. The details of its morphology vary according to sources and eras.

According to the philosopher Wang Fu, living in the Han Dynasty, it borrows features no fewer than nine animals: It has a camel head, demon eyes, ears bovid, the antlers of a deer, a snake's neck. Moreover, his tiger paws end in eagle talons. His belly is of a mollusk and the rest of his body is covered with 117 carp scales of which 81 are males and 36 females. We compare her voice to the sound you produce by drumming on copper pans.

The Chinese dragon usually has no wings, which does not prevent the fly thanks to the ridge above his head. But his main source of power lies in a large pearl (actually a crystal ball) that it hides under the folds of his chin and down her throat. This pearl is often synonymous with happiness, abundance, wisdom or knowledge to its possessor. Unlike its western cousin, the Chinese dragon is not like a dragon from birth. It will go through various stages of metamorphosis that span 3000 years.

The dragon egg will hatch after 1,000 years, giving rise to a water snake. It acquires, after 500 years, a carp head. The relationship between dragons and carp do not stop there: according to tradition, there is in the country several waterfalls and cascades named Gate dragon . Carp that manage to go change into dragons.

Following metamorphosis, the Chinese dragon retains anguiforme body, but it is covered with scales, long whiskers sensory characteristics and a beard grows. It is also developing four short legs ending in greenhouses, and a long tail. The imperial dragon however has 5 toes on each foot. At this point, the dragon is called jiao-long, or just long. It will happen indeed to perceive sounds as 5 centuries later, when his antler horns grow, allowing him to hear. This form is most common in traditional representations of the dragon.

It is called jiao-long. He finally reached adulthood after another millennium, obtaining de facto a pair of branched wings. He became at that time the ying-long. We now imagine as Chinese dragons, like other Oriental dragons, with long dorsal mane, a snake's belly, five, four or three clawed fingers, horns instead of wood, etc.

Eastern dragons are intimately linked to climate and water. They also tend to live in or near large bodies of water: turbulent rivers, the ocean floor or in the heart of big clouds. As his attributes, he was both beneficial and dangerous. The belief in dragons is stronger than that in other gods, because the people see them frequently in the changing clouds. China said that "when the dragons hear thunder, they rise; clouds arrive and, having trained all the dragons and go up and circulate in the sky.

As mentioned in the Theory of Genesis, exactly like the real one, it is steeped in continuous conflicts of opposites and dualities. In particular, one of the most common and significant dualisms is the Tiger and the Dragon, very dear to the Orientals. On this concept they have both written books, made ​​films, treatises, essays etc. which very often in the West is not immediately understandable, because here we have the Tiger, Hidden Dragon take on a completely different meaning and a great deal poorer.

The figure of the Dragon goes back to the dawn of time and finds its origins in China. According to some writings would be an ancient symbol of some 6,000 years. The cult of this figure was born together with the practice of agriculture and was intended to curry favor with the benevolence of the climate so that the crops do not go lost. In China, and later also in neighboring regions such as Japan, Tibet, etc., the Dragon was indeed prayed in times of drought.

Thus it became soon a symbol of benevolence, fertility and wealth, and it is still associated with the element of water, both in its tangible manifestations (rivers, waterfalls, lakes), both in its meteorological events like wind, storms, waterspouts, etc.

According to mythology, in addition to being master of the climate and the bearer of rain, it was believed that the Dragon had taken anthropomorphic form and gave rise to the imperial line. This belief was so strong that after the death of an emperor, it was widely expected to see appear in its original form, that is precisely the figure of a dragon.

It is in anticipation of those who considered themselves the virtues capital of an emperor, the Dragon he became (and still is) also a symbol of wisdom. In Japanese, the term Dragon can be expressed in various ways. One of these, it descended from English dragon, and reads Doragon. This term is often used to refer to the Western dragon.

In the West, the dragon has the opposite meaning: it is considered to be the bearer of destruction and death. No wonder then if very often the eastern works based on this concept, far from easy, they are not obvious.

Tiger on the other hand, also an ancient symbol, takes on a dual meaning, almost complementary to that of the Dragon. It is the emblem of strength. Formerly the Tiger dominated the mountains of Tibet and China, and in fact was considered a real "king of the mountains". His feline and elegant figure has always fascinated people, and its fleece striped has always been synonymous with power. In Eastern culture, the dualism of life is brought back to the eternal opposition of these two symbols. Being able to have them coexist in a balanced way is the best way to secure a good life.

But let's go. Oda has created characters that are inspired by both the tiger to Dragone, characters, that is, which are characterized by strength or wisdom. But you can be tigers or dragons in a very relative way, depending on the reference we choose.

The Dragon is the term we were talking about before. In fact jap writing precisely that dragon. is one of those who takes up the meaning of the Dragon, seen as the bearer of rain and climate master, and Oda fact shows him several times as capable of what. The Sabo same technical features Dragon, probably a monkey dad teaching. But Dragon has also proven to be a wise and rational person, so further worthy of being associated with this figure although not belong to the caste of the "gods" (that being the equivalent of the Japanese imperial line, should represent the Dragons par excellence).

Instead we own the Celestial Dragons. Given the role they play, and since obviously shooting of deities connotations attributed to the Japanese imperial lineage, are the best known emblem of the Dragon. Even their coat of arms, the base of the dragon printed focus on the backs of slaves as Hancock, her sisters, Fisher Tiger etc. emphasizes the theoretical link with this symbol.
But this is just a theoretical bond. Everything can be said of the Celestial Dragons, but not that they are wise. Indeed, from the population point of view they are seen as Tigers, because no qualms in using violence to achieve their ends.

The Celestial Dragons are therefore an example of people who are born to be Dragoons but they behave like tigers. Finally, we take the Queen Otohime. This character, despite not belonging to the divine caste, it is a noble (defined just like real figure) among his people. In this context, it would be for her birthright the assignment of the symbol of the Dragon. Even more so if we consider his character and his work. Her all we can say, but it was not a violent person. Rather. He has made ​​the wisdom his greatest virtue.

So we have a glaring example of one who was born to be a dragon and act as such. Now for the Tiger. We examine the admiral Issho, also said Fujitora. This character, like Dragon, has the name of the main reference. Fujitora literally means in fact Wisteria Tiger, where the first term is the name of an ornamental plant with typical violet petals of China, from which even the Purple Tiger nickname.

During the Dressrosa saga we've got to understand that it is much more prone to the Wisdom that the Force, although it is a foot higher than all present. He, therefore, presents a perfect combination of the two symbols. But there is another pretty strange stuff. Just before we said that once the tiger was considered the king of the mountains. Japan's highest mountain is just the Mount Fuji, which by the way is a volcano. This supposed reference could change the meaning of the term Fujitora in Tigre Fuji, that the king of the mountains, seen as one of the potentially most destructive characters in circulation and gave it test.

According to the legend, in addition, the Tiger white would bring bad luck in gambling (and Issho roulette is one that they will be, lol). Finally, we conclude with another great Tiger, this time from the past: Fisher Tiger. Although this character has in the name direct symbolic reference. But it does not stop there. Being Tiger is supported by the fact that he had strenuously opposed to those that are the Dragons par excellence, that is, the Celestial Dragons. The use of force not only allowed him to escape from the prisons of Mariejois, but also allowed him to return climbing barehanded the Red Line, and making good iron and fire of the Holy Land.

However, his story hero ends miserably for almost a pure prejudice against humans. The hatred he feels for them is such as to reject a transfusion with their blood. Here, he is the symbol of a strong person, temperamentally and spiritually (though in the last moments of life, he admitted not to be so much). He has all the qualities of the leader of the pack, but lacks wisdom, which, however, was typical of his queen, Otohime. Then He is a character who is born to be a Tiger, and remains so.

But as Fisher Tiger, a little all the pirates can be considered the Tigers, except those who have also developed the Dragon skills meaning gifts of wisdom, Roger, Newgate, Shanks, Rayleigh, etc. all great names of piracy of the past and present have been imbued both characters Force of Wisdom.

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